WELCOME

~ The pieces are all sewn together, stitched with love.........and a quilt tells a story and the story is our past ~

The Arrowood family immigrated from England to Maryland in the 1700's. They went south, eventually settling in the mountains of North Carolina. Later , some went further south, into the Piedmont of North Carolina, in search of work and a better way of life.

I am in search of my family.

I search for those that came before me, and lived their lives as best they could. I am in search of their stories, how they lived, and how they loved.

I shared this love of seeking the past with my Dad, sharing each new finding with him, the thrill in his heart intermingling with mine. I continue this search in his honor, and hope to know these people of ours when I join up with them all in heaven.

~ Steve Lewis Arrowood 1932-2008 ~

Come with me, back to a simpler time and place. A place far removed from the hectic pace of today. To a time when life was hard, but the rewards were great. When your quality of life was determined by your own sweat, your own toil, and your own ingenuity.

Would you like a glass of sweet tea? Let's sit out on the porch where we will catch the sweetly scented breeze of summertime. Maybe Grandma will fry up some of her wonderful chicken... Time slows here.

Arrowood Family

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The first German immigrants in America came here seeking land and the promise of religious freedom. They had heard that both could be found in the newly chartered colony of Pennsylvania, which was governed by a Quaker, William Penn.

Francis Daniel Pastorius, an agent for a land purchasing company in the city of Frankfurt am Main, organized the original party of settlers. It was a group largely made up of German Quakers and Mennonites from the Rhineland.

Pastorius preceded the settlers to America, arriving in Philadelphia in mid-August, 1683. He negotiated with Penn for a tract of land northwest of Philadelphia on which to build a settlement, which was to become known as "Germantown." Six weeks later, on October 6, 1683, the ship Concord sailed into Philadelphia's harbor from Germany. On board were thirteen families. The German settlers felt an immediate kinship to their new home, since Pennsylvania's rolling hills and fertile plains resembled the terrain of the land they had left behind. Their glowing accounts of life in the New World soon prompted other German immigrants to follow their lead. Settlers representing a variety of Protestant religious groups began descending on Germantown. By 1689, the settlement had grown so large that it had to be incorporated.

The spirit of the Germantown settlement was summed up by the words inscribed over the door of Pastorius' cottage. They promised "no words of welcome to the godless and profane." Germantown's citizens were pious, peaceful, industrious people, who quickly established southeastern Pennsylvania as a leading agricultural region.

Over the centuries, the community has continued to cling to the language and culture of its native land. Descendants of the first German immigrants are called Pennsylvania Dutch - an Anglicization of the word "deutsche" meaning "German."

The U.S. commemorative stamp on this First Day Cover, which honors the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the first German settlers in America, was designed by Richard Schlecht of Arlington, Virginia. The artist also designed the 1982 Wolf Trap Farm Park and Ponce de Leon commemorative stamps.

Between 1708 and 1760, war, hunger, and persecution drove 100,000 German immigrants ("Auswanderungs") to America. Between 1727 and 1776, a total of 324 ships arrived at Philadelphia carrying German passengers. Other ships carried immigrants from many European nations to other American ports. The tens of thousands of German immigrants settled at various places in America, from New England to Pennsylvania and the Virginias, most of them settling in Pennsylvania. Other immigrants from other countries spread throughout the northeastern quarter of the American colonies. And then, after those hardships, the pioneering ancestors had to suffer further extreme hardships in hewing out the wilderness for their new homes in America. Germans (and German Americans) have a reputation (somewhat deserved) of being obstinate,(OUR ancestors?? grin) but how else could have those early settlers survived in their terrible struggle against first their homeland rulers and then the wilderness and the Indians?

"The very essence of our nation is founded on the strength, courage, and determination of these immigrants." (Thomas Jefferson)

The following is information about Henry Weidner aka Whitener. The father in law of our John Philip Dellinger. Father of John's wife, Barbara Whitener. The will mentions the bequeathing of land to John Philip.

In the name of God, Amen! The seventh day of December in the year of our Lord, 1790, I, Henry Weidner, Sr., of the County of Lincoln, in the State of North Carolina, planter, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner as follows. That is to say, in the first place, I give, devise and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Catherine, a Negro wench named Phyllis, one hundred pounds in cash; her bed and furniture, a horse and saddle and spinning wheel, her privilege in the ,Manor house and all the household furniture while she remains single and no longer. I give unto my son Daniel three Negroes, vis: Kingston, Tom’s son Pelt and old Tom. I give unto my son Henry five Negroes, vis: Henry, Pete, Pleasant, David and Nancy. I also will that my said two sons Daniel and Henry have all my iron tools and utensils of husbandry, equally divided between them, Daniel to have the first choice and Henry the second and so to continue by choice until they have the whole. I give unto my daughter Mary, five cows, a Negro wench named Fanny, and her bed and furniture. I give unto my daughter Catherine, wife of John Mull, a Negro wench named Nanny. I give unto Barbara, wife of John Dellinger, a certain debt of seventy-five pounds. I give unto my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Henry Summerrow, a debt of seventy-five pounds. I likewise give unto my daughter Mollie, a certain debt of sixty-six pounds my two stills and all the still vessels and a horse now in her possession. I also will that if any or part of my moveable estate not particularly disposed of should remain in the hands of my executors, it shall be equally divided among all my children, male and female. I also give, devise, and bequeath unto John Dellinger, Jr., Joseph Dellinger, Catherine Dellinger and Barbara Dellinger, the children of my son-in-law, John Dellinger and his wife, my daughter, Barbara, that certain tract of land whereon said John Dellinger now lives, situated on Jacob’s Fork, being a part of sundry surveys and containing by estimation 400 acres, be the same more or less. And lastly I make, nominate, constitute and appoint my loving and dutiful sons, Daniel and Henry Weidner, my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto interchangeably set my hand and affixed my seal, the year above written.

Henry Weidner (Seal)

Signed and sealed by the testator, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who were present at the signing and sealing thereof.Robert BlackburnMichael ShellJohn (X) Mull

Henry Weidner (my 6th Great-grandfather!) was a bold, daring, brave man, who was not afraid of the Indians’ tomahawk or scalping knife, but was willing to sacrifice his life for his posterity and generations unborn.

The time was when we could not easily get marble to tell where our loved ones lie. That time has passed. Marble is easily had, besides these hills are full of gray granite that will last as long as the eternal hills, where we may hew out shafts to reach high up toward heaven and mark the spot where the noble dead lie. Where rest the bones of Daniel Whitener, the hero of King’s Mountain. Ye sons and daughters of royal blood, his descendants, tell me where. If he lies in a neglected grave, come to the rescue. Let generations unborn know that he was one of the heroes of King’s Mountain, that he and his posterity are worthy of the good and brave pioneer, the first discoverer of this goodly land and helped to drive the treacherous, improvident, barbarous Indians from this fair land. If our meeting here today does nothing more than to pass a few compliments, over the dead heroes, then we will have met in vain. It should do more than this. We all ought to resolve that we will do our duty in trying to raise from oblivion our deserving friends, who now lie in the cold and silent grave. A pencil mark is worth more than all the memories of the world. The mark of the chisel on graphite or marble is worth more than all the pencil marks on earth. It will last until the heavens shall roll together as a scroll, till this solid globe shall melt with fervent heat, and until there shall be a new Heaven and a new earth. Until then and only then, shall there be need of monuments and histories to preserve the virtues of our honored dead. Let us not do like the red men who have preceded us and who have left no monuments, no written histories, no tombstones, no statues, no roses to tell where the garden has been. We are all passing through nature to eternity. In a short time the plowshare will pass over the graves of the neglected dead. Shall our bones be turned up with the plowshare and bleached with the clods of the valley. Shall no loving hands strew flowers on our graves and shed a tear of memory over the sod that covers them Forbid it heaven! Forbid it my countrymen, that our graves should be thus neglected. If we neglect others we may share the same fate. This small tablet at the head of Henry Weidner’s grave is all that is left of this great man and his beloved wife.

Catherine Weidner was born May 24th, 1733, and died Aug. 20th, 1804, aged 71 years, two months and twenty-six days.

Henry Weidner was born in the year 1717, Oct. 9th, and died July the 21st, 1792, aged seventy-four years, eight months. He lies buried in yonder cemetery with only this humble stone to mark his grave. He deserves a monument whose top should be first to catch a glimpse of the rays of the rising sun and say to generations unborn: “Here lies one of nature’s noblemen, an honor to his race and a blessing to his country.”

The following is an exerpt from the Newton Enterprise Newspaper: Newton Enterprise -

January 9, 1885 RAMBLING HISTORICAL FACTS OF JACOBS FORK TOWNSHIP

Mr. Editor: While the 1884th Christmas was passing away, and the people of this township were enjoying it merrily and while the rainy and sleety weather continued, and the 1885th year was drawing near, your correspondent thought he would pass away his leisure hours in writing a few historical facts for your paper that might be of some interest to many readers of the same, relating to that portion of county now known as Jacob's Fork township that was created and established since the late war.

The township is bound on the south by the Lincoln county line, on the west by Bandy's township, on the north and east by Jacob's Fork River, and Newton township line and by Clark's Creek. The township lies on both sides of the South Fork river and embraces all that rich country known as the South Fork valley. It was the first portion of country settled by the early hardy Dutch Pennsylvanians between the years 1760 and 1770, who were a peaceful and industrious people and dwelt together in harmony and mutual friendship. And the German language was their language until about forty years ago when your correspondent was yet quite a small boy. Since then the English language has come in its place.

They were German Reforms and Lutherans and built a Union Church and worshipped God together in the same house. And so have things continued until this good day, without a jar or discord. Since Catawba County has been established, there has not one lawsuit gone up to the court house to grace the court dockets from any of the descendants of these hardy old German Pennsylvanians. We do not think that there is a pauper in this township receiving aid from the county at present.

They held a special Memorial Service for Henry Weidner "Whitener" near the site of his grave.This is lengthy, but WELL worth the read. It tells of the Cherokee attacking his home and how life truly was in his time..

On the first Sunday in April, 1894, at Bethel Reformed church, Mr. John W. Robinson Asked the Pastor’s permission to make a few remarks after service. He stated that near his home on the hill, rested the ashes of Henry Weidner, the first white settler of the South Fork Valley.

The grave was said to be covered with briars, and the fence surrounding it in a dilapidated condition. Mr. Robinson appealed to the friends to rebuild the fence, and to beautify the grave, adding tht it was his desire that a suitable service be held at some convenient time. This was the first intimtion of the Henry Weidner Memorial Service. The writer was asked to prepare a programme for the occasion, which he did, selecting the 30th day of May as the time.

Being properly advertised, and suitable provisions being made, the largest crowd assembled on that day that has ever been brught together at one time, within the history of this community, being between 2,500 and 3000 people present. The interest manifested by this audience was intense. The speakers had made careful and extended preparations; the choirs had selected the most soul stirring music.

After the service was over, a general request came up from the friends asking that the proceedings of the day should be published in pamphlet form. Yielding to that request, we have gathered together the speeches made and the papers read on that day, and herewith give them to the public, trusting that they will awaken an interest in some one who will write more fully than has been before, the history of the German people who settled this part of Western North Carolina.

To Judge McCorkle and Colonel G. M. Yoder we are indebted for their valuable papers.We give the programme as rendered that day without embellishment or comment.

J. L. Murphy

Hickory, North CarolinaJune 13, 1894

HENRY WEIDNERMEMORIAL

_____________________________

Report Of The Exercises Held At The Old Pioneer’s Homestead In Catawba County, N. C., May 30, 1894

The gathering at the home of Mr. Robinson is told in this manner by the Newton Enterprise:

Wednesday morning, May 30th dawned upon us dark and gloomy, the heavy clouds hung low, and threatened each moment to deluge the earth with rain, but nothing daunted, large numbers of persons were easily to be seen wending their way to the hospitable home of Mr. John W. Robinson, to attend the memorial services to be held that day in honor of Henry Weidner, the discoverer of South Fork, earliest settler of that part of Catawba County. On nearing the home of our friend, Mr. Robinson was to be seen standing in his front yard bidding a hearty welcome to each and every visitor as they passed by him, be they in buggy, carriage, wagon, cart, on horseback or on foot. When we reached the grounds, it looked as if hundreds had preceded us and still long lines of vehicles could be seen as far down the road as the eye could reach. A nice platform had been erected beneath the outstretching branches of that giant oak tree, which has born upon its bark the red paint, that was the Indians’ signal to Henry Weidner and his noble comrades that hostilities had commenced, and the trunk of this mighty white oak as well as the speakers platform had been prettily decorated for the occasion. At 10:30 the choirs of Bethel and Zion gave the audience some very appropriate music and Rev. J. L. Murphy, who was master of ceremonies, announced the Invocation by Rev. A. H. Smith, followed with the Scripture lessons, Gen. 17: 1-8, Heb. 11: 32-40 by Rev. Mr. Murphy, and prayer by the Rev. Prof. Cline of Lenoir College. Following the prayer, the choirs sang: “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.” Mr. John W. Robinson was then introduced, who delivered the address of Welcome. Mr. Robinson spoke as follows:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I am truly thankful that I have been permitted to see this day, on which the descendants and friends of Henry Weidner have assembled under this old historic tree, which stands as a living monument to his memory, to do honor to the old pioneer of the South Fork Valley. Near by, now in ruins, is the home, and on yonder hill is the last resting place of the first white man who saw the beautiful valleys of Henry’s and Jacob’s Forks of the Catawba River. And now to you, the living relatives of old Father Weidner, to you kind pastors and your people, to you neighbors and friends, to all, I, In behalf of my family and myself, extend a most cordial welcome to my home - once the home of Father Weidner.

Young ladies and young men, little boys and little girls, please hear me; I am thankful to you for being here today with us, as living, blooming, budding flowers, to help decorate this memorial to the honor of our dear old father and mother. In behalf of my wife, my sons and my daughters, I extend to you a heartfelt welcome. How shall we remember our relatives in other states? I can say, if they were here, with outstretched arms we would greet them and say, welcome, welcome once more to the old homestead, and the last resting place of our father and mother.

Grand and great grand children, please give me your attention. This memorial service was mostly gotten up for your benefit. I congratulate you on having such a great and brave man as Henry Weidner as your ancestor. I trust you will pay good attention to the speakers whom we have with us today. We are on the down grade. Soon our race will be run, and what history may be handed down to you today, I trust you will keep in your minds so that you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren. I extend to you a loving welcome.

Now to the poor and the different classes, doctors, lawyers, editors and farmers, I extend to you a loving welcome.

I take occasion, also, to express my thanks to the kind friends who have so nobly assisted in fencing the old family graveyard, and in beautifying the grave of Father Weidner. To the committee of arrangements, to the choirs of Zion and Bethel churches, I return my sincere thanks. In conclusion, I appeal to all for good order.

At the conclusion of Mr. Robinson’s address, Rev. Mr. Murphy arose and said:

Mr. Robinson: In behalf of this large assemblage of people, the descendants and friends of Henry Weidner, I sincerely thank you for the lively interest you have manifested in this memorial service. You conceived the though of holding this service, you planned it, you have given time and energy to it, you have thrown open the doors of your home, you have given a warm welcome. I thank you for the opportunity of learning something of our ancestry, and for the privilege of honoring the brave man who first discovered and settled this beautiful valley of the South Fork of the Catawba. There is no better way of impressing the important lessons of life upon the minds of our young people, than by pointing them to the noble deeds of these ancestors. A certain Latin writer has said that “whenever he has beheld the images of his ancestors he felt his mind vehemently excited to virtue.” It was not the wax or marble that possessed this power, but the recollections of their noble actions, which kindled this generous flame in his bosom. The learned Apostle, when he would arouse the Hebrew Christians and inspire them to noble deeds and to greater and truer reverence, rehearsed the lives of the heroes of faith, “who subdued kingdoms and wrought righteousness.” We feel that today we will gather fresh inspirations which will enable us to go on to higher attainments and greater perfection in life. Again, we sincerely thank you.

Rev. J. C. Clapp D. D., president of Catawba College, was then introduced as the orator selected to deliver the memorial sermon. Dr. Clapp was followed by the Rev. J. C. Moser, pastor of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Hickory, N. C. , in an appropriate address. The addresses of Dr. Clapp and Rev. Mr. Moser were delivered without notes and we are unable to give them. At this point, a recess of one hour and a half was taken. The large audience were invited to visit the grave of Henry Weidner and the hill nearby, which most of them did. Returning from the grave, the audience were invited to surround the large table arranged in the field above Mr. Robinson’s home. After a few words of prayer by the Rev. R. A. Yoder, President of Lenoir College, the invitation was given to partake of the dinner with which the large table was loaded. After dinner some time was spent in social chat. Then the crowd reassembled around the stand, and judge Matthew L. McCorkle, of Newton, was introduced and spoke as follows:

COLONEL McCORKLE’S SPEECH.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: It has been customary among all civilized people since the world was created, to build monuments to perpetuate the memories of the noble dead, and celebrate great events in the world’s history.

Sometimes hundreds of years elapse, before the deeds of the distinguished dead are appreciated. Columbus, the discoverer of America, never received the honors that were due him until the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. Washington, the great father of his country, was never honored before, as he was on the celebration of the completion of the monument, 515 feet high, in Washington City.

It has been over one hundred and fifty years since Henry Weidner first discovered yonder beautiful river, the South Fork of the Catawba River. When he came here, he found a race of people far different from the present occupants of this country. They built no monuments, and there is scarcely a trace left where they once lived, except a few arrow-heads and stone axes. They have fled before the face of civilization; they have followed the setting sun and have only stopped in their Western march by being driven back by the waves of the Pacific Ocean. They were pushed back by the Anglo-Saxon, the highest developed type of the human race. They were said to be the Aboriginies of America. They were red men and were called Indians. They had tribes and nations. They had no boundaries to their governments. They settled on the water courses and their tributaries, for the purpose of hunting and fishing. These were their only boundary lines. When Henry Weidner crossed the Catawba River at Sherrill’s Ford, he was in the country of the Catawba Indians. They inhabited along the great river from near the South Carolina line to it’s head including all its tributaries. The name of the great Catawba, is an Indian name, and means Catfish River. From Adam Sherrill’s, about the year 1745, he started west without a human soul to pilot him or to accompany him in this unknown land, inhabited by nature’s wild beasts and probably hostile Indians. He was armed with a gun whose barrel was about six feet long, with a tomahawk and a long knife in his scabbard. The country away from the water courses was made of timber. He could see for miles around him and before him. With a compass he could steer a straight direction. Due west from Sherrill’s Ford carried him to where the two rivers of the South Fork came together. He stood upon the hill not far from Elkanah Hunsacker’s, and viewed the landscape o’er. Moses himself was not more delighted to view the land of Canaan.

On his way from Sherrill’s Ford to this delightful spot, he saw frequently herds of deer scampering over the plain, large flocks of wild turkeys and droves of buffalo feeding at a distance, and the wolf and the coyote bounding along before him. The country was full of wild game. The earth was covered with luscious grapes and nourishing pea vines. The streams abounded in fish of all kinds. There were no dams and nets and wire seines stretched across the river to obstruct fish from coming from the ocean and the streams were not filled with sand in consequence of bad farming. Nature was herself untarnished. The two forks united about a half mile further up Jacob’s Fork than they now do. The low ground was covered with tall cane, with here and there a large walnut on the banks or otherwise. It is said he crossed on a raft over the river and he thought there was but one stream. He found its mate. Which one is the larger? No one knows to this day. Signs of otter, mink, musk rat, coon and bear could be seen all along the banks of either stream, and behold the soil as fertile as the valley of the River Nile. Henry weidner might have exclaimed, “Gefunden,” Then raised his eyes to heaven and thanked God, “for his goodness and mercies endureth for ever.” Night overtook him; he laid himself down to sleep with his watch dogs beside him and his Heavenly Father to guard him from the dangers of the night. One of these beautiful rivers is named Henry, the other Jacob, after Henry and Jacob Weidner.

Henry Weidner was a bold and daring adventurer. He came originally from Germany. His name passed through different forms of spelling; first Weidner, then Wetner, then Witener, then finally Whitener. He was a Saxon, from Coburg, Saxony, and left that country when he was a young man, on account of some troubles between him and his brothers about the Crown of that Government, and came to America. He landed first in Philadelphia, then came to North Carolina. Henry Weidner was a brother of Prince Albert’s father, whose original name was Wetner. He came (to North Carolina) originally to trap and hunt. He came alone. He was the first white man that discovered the beautiful South Fork of the Great Catawba. He lived in peace with the Indians, who still held the soil. He was wont to go back to the civilized world each spring and carry his pelts on horses. Some of the patents of his land bear the date 1750. On one of his trips, he brought as his companion of his forest life, a young wife - Mary Mull - and a youth by the name of Conrad Yoder, the ancestor of a large and respectable posterity. He also brought with him Abram Mull, his brother-in-law. Whom he settled near him in yonder hill. Abram Mull had married Mary Poffh. These families had not been here long in their forest houses, til a band of marauding Cherokees from beyond the mountains, invaded their new homes and killed Abram Mull and two of his children, and scalped them and burned their houses. Mrs. Mull had gone out to drive up the cattle and approaching near the house, the cattle came running back and that alarmed her. She saw the smoking ruins of her house. She ran to Henry Weidner’s and gave the warning and they all fled to the cane break, and stayed there all night. The next morning Henry Weidner came back, and saw the smouldering ruins and Abram Mull lying cold and dead. The children had been killed and all their scalps taken off. Oh, what a heart rending scene to the poor bereaved wife and mother and all who beheld it. They were ready to exclaim, “Carry me back! Carry me back to old “Sylvania’s shore.” The Indians had killed some of their cattle and had gone. Henry Weidner and family and Mrs. Mull went to South Carolina, and after they had been there a short time, Henry Weidner and John Warlick came back to reconnoiter the country. They saw a band of Indians not far from the old homestead. They retreated and Warlick’s son became mired and whilst he was trying to extricate him --- Weidner urging him on --- the Indians overtook him and killed him. One continued to follow Weidner. He stopped, took deliberate aim, and made him bite the dust. He killed him with that same old gun, whose barrel was about six feet long and was brought from Pennsylvania when he first came to North Carolina. He returned to South Carolina and remained there, in all, about two years, and they all returned to their homes and they were never afterwards molested on account of the Indians. Mrs. Mull, nee Poffh, the beautiful and charming widow, after a few years, laid aside her weeds of mourning and married Maj. George Wilfong. They were blessed with two sons and four daughters. They all raised large and respectable families. When Henry Weidner and Mrs. Mull returned, this giant oak, whose trunk measures twenty-two feet around, and whose branches extend far and wide, and afford shelter for this vast audience, was a small tree and was painted red as a warning that the war still continued. After Henry Weidner lead the way, he was followed by the Conrads, Beinhardts, Anthonys, Frys, Forneys, Rauchs, Ramseurs, Hoyles, Hokes, Bosts, Shufords, Summerrows, Dellingers, Sigmons, ansd a number of other families, who, take them all in all, are a noble set of people. They built their houses over springs and in case of a siege by the Indians they could have water to drink - with loop holes in the rock walls from which to shoot their assailants. There is an evidence of this fact in sight of the old dwelling house of the great pioneer Henry Weidner. They carried their lives in their hands, not knowing at what time they would be shot down by an Indian in ambush or lurking behind some covert wall. We often think we live in evil times, but the blessings we enjoy can’t be enumerated, compared to those of our forefathers.

On the 24th day of March 1663, King Charles the second granted to Edward, earl of Clarendon, and others as true and absolute Lord Proprietors of all the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean included between the 31st and 36th parallels, North latitude; and on the 30th of June 1663, by a second charter, he enlarged the powers of the grantees, and extended their boundaries so as to include all the country between the parallels 34 degrees and 30 minutes and 29 degrees North latitude. On the 25th day of July1720, seven of the eight proprietors of the Carolinas in consideration of 500 pounds sterling, conveyed all their rights, privileges and franchises to George the Second, King of Great Britain, and Earl Cartaret, afterwards Lord Granville, conveyed all his rights of jurisdiction over the said province or colony, reserving one-eighth part of the soil and territorial rights. Earl Granville still held the soil in North Carolina from the Virginia line south to 35 degrees, 34 minutes and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, a magnificent domain. This line runs East and West from the Atlantic Ocean about four miles of the town of Lincolnton. The line was not defined west of the Catawba River until 1835, and consequently, a large number of grants were taken out in the name of the king north of that line during the period from 1729 to 1782. Henry Weidner’s grant to this splendid plantation was taken out in 1750 in the name of the king. The date of the rock house was taken out in 1750 in the same way. The other plantations belonging to Henry Weidner along these two beautiful rivers were patented afterwards. He had three sons and five daughters. The names of his sons are: Daniel, Henry and Abram. The latter was killed during the Revolutionary War. He had five daughters whose names were: Mary, who married Lightfoot Williams, Barbara, who married John Dellinger, Elizabeth, who married Henry Summerrow, Catherine, who married John Meuhl, commonly called “Mull.” Millie married Jesse Robinson. He gave his son Henry the Rock House place, who held it about twenty-five years, and he sold it to Jacob Summey, and then mover to the State of Missouri and there died. One of his sons told Dr. Fox, who visited him in Missouri, that “If he had the rock place back, he wouldn’t give it up for half of the State of Missouri. To Daniel he gave the Darius Sides’ place, near where the late George Weidner lived. He lived and died on the place and left a large number of respectable and well to do descendants and was buried in the old family graveyard on yonder hill near by. To his daughter Mary he gave the place now owned by Major Hull, Esq., and was known as the Lightfoot Williams place. To Elizabeth he gave a part of the Mull land. To Catherine he gave the land occupied by the Mulls on Jacob’s Fork. He deeded the home place to Jesse Robinson, his son-in-law, instead of his daughter, Mollie. The Dellinger place he devised to his grandchildren, John Dellinger, Jr., Henry Dellinger, who was killed at the battle of Kings Mountain, Joseph Dellinger, Catherine Dellinger and Barbara Dellinger, the children of his son-in-law John Dellinger. ******************************************

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Those two old army buddies, kept in touch, all these years. They were really good friends. Bud was a sweet, gentle, soft-spoken sort of man. He was short in stature, almost tiny. I think that they picked on him mercilessly, while he was in the Army and Dad saw that, and made friends with him, quick. Dad had a way about him, of migrating to the aid of someone like that. Always looking out for the underdog. They had all sorts of stories about one another during those Army Days...stunts they pulled and funnies that happened. Shenanigans.

I know each of them surely found an endless supply of conversation between themselves. It just flowed, punctuated with occasional chuckles and laughter. Bud and his wife, Zella, would come to visit us, just about yearly through the years. Dad and Bud would sit at the table and talk low, smiling and nodding, a lot. A kid just notices these things. (Dad has a best friend, too).Imagine that!

They would come to see us, always with wonderful gifts in hand, for all of us kids. One such gift stands out in my mind...I still have it. A wonderful transistor radio shaped like a ladybug. The wings open as you twist the volume up. A wonderful thing for a little gal.

Bud's family was originally from Alabama and the family still owned the old farm down there. Dad said that Bud always talked of retiring to that farm and that is just what he did. They lived in Berwyn , Illinois for most of their married lives. They raised their son there. But the call of "home" and the farm, beckoned. They left the suburb of Chicago, and the bustling city life, for a more leisurely paced one. They built a beautiful home atop a small mountain on the land and slowed down a bit.

Dad told me about leaving Bud, that last time, when they went to Alabama to see them. He said that Bud stood by the fence, at the gate, as they drove away. Bud had diabetes and had several bad episodes while they were there. Dad said that the wind blew Bud's hair all over and he looked so pitiful..standing there with tears streaming down his face as he watched Dad and Mom drive away. Dad thought as he watched him, 'this is probably the last time I will see my buddy'..

Dad told me that, while tears streamed down his own face, after they got back home.

True friends.

That kind of friendship is evolved from having kindred spirits, it just doesn't come along every day.

Something to be cherished.

I imagine there was a wonderful reunion up in heaven this week. My Dad must have clapped his hands together, just a way he had, and exclaimed loudly, "Hi Ya, Pal"!

I am sure there are some funny 'shenanigans' going on up there, right now.

My cousin told me today that she "just bets Steve was the one standing by the gate this time, waiting".

At Heaven's Gate.

I'll just bet she is right about that.

A.C. "Bud" HARDMAN, 78, of Oneonta, died Jan. 9, 2010, at St. Vincent's East. The Alabama native served in the U.S. Army and had been a foreman for Milwaukee Railroad. He was the son of the late Ras and Ida Keeves Hardman.

Surviving are wife Zella Stoffregen Hardman, son James Cornelius, and brother Melvin Hardman, all of Oneonta.

A memorial service will be held later by the family, according to information from Lemley Chapel.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Our ancestor fought in the Battle of Ramseur's Mill and the Battle of King's Mountain during the American Revolution.

He was known as Captain Johan “John” Philip Dellinger.

The son of Johannes Philipp (Pioneer) Dellinger, Sr.Brother of Heinrich “Henry” Dellinger of Magnolia Grove and father to George Henry Dellinger that moved to the mountains of North Carolina and started up the grist mill.

Captain John Philip Dellinger was born October 23, 1743 in Oberacker Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

John Philip Dellinger was a strong supporter of freedom for theAmerican colonies. He was one of the 49 signers of The Tryon Resolves.

The Tryon County Declaration of Rights and Independence from British Tyranny.

This monument was placed on N.C. Hwy 274, just outside of Cherryville in 1949 by the Daughters of The American Revolution. John's name appears on the right hand column, the ninth name down.It was at this site, that the first Tryon County Courthouse once stood.

He was elected to the Tryon Safety Committee representing his Indian Creek neighborhood.

He led both infantry and cavalry troops as a Captain, but was on duty as aprivate soldier.

John Wilfong is quoted as saying "he never knew a better soldier or a braver officer."

He participated in the Cross Creek Expedition, the Battle of Cowpens, Ramseur's Mill, and Kings Mountain.

After his marriage, he moved away from the families' original locationon Leepers Creek and settled in Catawba County, in the vicinity of hisfather-in-law, in an area near Hickory, North Carolina. He may havelater, moved even further north to Lyle Creek.

John acquired property on Indian Creek in 1773, where he operated a mill,and where he brought his bride. He later acquired other properties in thearea. John Philip Dellinger’s land bordered John Wilfong’s.

Barbara married Capt. John Philip Dellinger during the Revolutionary War, and had to spend a year or so in Pennsylvania for safety with their first baby, our ancestor Henry,while he was away fighting.

In 1781, when hostilities were over, they built their home on Henry Weidner's, (Barbara’s father’s) land on Jacob‘s Fork. (The present-day Jacob's Fork community is not that far from me, so another road trip is coming up, so stay tuned!)

Henry later divided Barbara's share among their children.

John participated in the usual civic duties expected of a prosperousplanter.

Their children were Henry, Catherine, John, Joseph, Barbara,Jacob, and another son who died young.

John and Barbara made their home between their son Joseph and daughter Barbara, during their declining years.

Strangely, their burial place is unknown. But that is not to say that I will stop looking!

Barbara died at her daughter Barbara Sigman's home at the age of 85, and oddly, no funeral was preached.

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The Arrowood/Arwood Family

Thanks so very much for all of the wonderful feedback I have gotten from everyone! If you are related or somehow have a tie to this family, please leave a comment for me. I welcome any additional info and absolutely love collecting pictures! If you have anything about this family you would like posted, I will gladly do so. Please, leave me a note! This has been, and continues to be, such a blessing to me.